Oak Forest police officer killed in crash

A 30-year veteran police officer died after his squad car was involved in a two-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in south suburban Oak Forest.

James Morrissy, 62, of Oak Forest, was pronounced dead just after 8 p.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Morrissy was on his way to assist another officer at a non-emergency domestic situation about 2:15 p.m. and was attempting to turn left from 160th Street onto Cicero Avenue when a southbound vehicle on Cicero hit the driver’s side of his squad car, according to the Oak Forest police.

He was pinned in his vehicle and had to be extricated before he was taken to Christ Medical Center, according to police.

Anderson said that Morrissy’s squad car emergency lights do not appear to have been on at the time of the crash.

The other vehicle’s driver was taken to Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest with “minor injuries,” police said.

No charges or citations are expected to be filed against the other driver, Anderson said.

“We at the Oak Forest Police Department are proud to have served with Jim,” Anderson said in a statement. “It is difficult to express our feelings for him. He was extremely dedicated and died while responding to assist another officer.”

Morrissy is survived by a wife and three sons, Anderson said. No funeral arrangements have been announced as of Tuesday morning.

Morrissy was a hard worker who always kept his fellow officers on their toes, Anderson said. He served as a field training officer for the department and was responsible for helping mold new officers.

“He was basically the first contact the new recruits had,” Anderson said.

Traffic in both directions was blocked for more than three hours after the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by Oak Forest police and the Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team.